Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury on May 1, 2017
Two vehicles collided in Clarksville on Monday morning, cause one of them to rollover and end up on its roof in the median.
The Leaf-Chronicle reports that the crash occurred at around 10:15 a.m. when the 39-year-old driver of a 2017 Hyundai Tucson turned right from Tiny Town Road onto Fort Campbell Boulevard.
A report by police Clarksville Police indicated that he took the turn too wide and struck a 2010 Nissan Sentra that was being driven by a 20-year-old man. The impact of the collision caused the Nissan to strike the center median and then roll onto its roof.
No serious injuries were reported after the accident, but the driver of the Tucson was issued a citation for failing to exercise reasonable care.
6 Common Causes of Rollover Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that rollover accidents, while rare, have a higher fatality rate than other types of crashes. Only around two percent of auto accidents in the United States each year result in a vehicle rolling over, but those types of crashes accounted for 35 percent of auto accident fatalities. The NHTSA also reports that around 70 percent of people killed in rollover accidents weren’t buckled up.
Some of the most common causes of these types of accidents include the following:
Some vehicles are simply more prone to rolling over than others, especially if they have high centers of gravity. SUVs, pickup trucks, and large vans are more likely to roll over than sedans, and wagons, and other vehicles with smaller profiles and ceilings that are lower to the ground.
Exceeding the speed limit increases the risk of all types of accidents, including rollover accidents. The NHTSA reports that around 40 percent of fatal rollover accidents involve speeding, and around 75 percent of fatal rollovers take place on roadways where the speed limit is at least 55 miles per hour.
In addition to speeding, alcohol also plays a major role in many rollover accidents. The NHTSA says that a driver is intoxicated in nearly half of all rollover crashes in the United States each year, and that any level of blood alcohol concentration above .00 can result in impaired judgment, muscular coordination, and vision.
Rollover crashes are more likely to occur when vehicles exit roadways and drive into ditches, medians, or other areas with uneven terrain. Because of that, around 75 percent of rollover crashes occur in rural areas with high speed limits.
While some drivers may assume that rollover crashes are more likely on steep or winding roads and during demand driving maneuvers, data indicates that the opposite is true. More than 90 percent of fatal single-vehicle rollover accidents occur when drivers are either traveling in a straight line or negotiating a normal curve, which may indicate that driver behavior plays a large role in rollover accidents.
Although rollovers are a risk when two vehicles collide, the NHTSA found that around 85 percent of rollover accidents occur because of single-vehicle crashes. This further reinforces the notion that most rollover crashes happen because of driver error and engaging in dangerous behaviors, such as speeding, driving while under the influence, and driving while distracted.
One of the biggest risk factors that drivers and passengers face during rollover accidents is being ejected from their vehicles. Wearing a seat belt can make a big difference in your safety if you’re ever in a vehicle that rolls over, as it will significantly reduce your risk of an ejection.
If you or someone you know was hurt in a rollover crash that was caused by a negligent driver, the Clarksville auto accident lawyers at Matt Hardin Law may be able to help you recover compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. We can investigate the crash and collect evidence that proves the other driver failed to uphold his or duty to drive safely, and we can us that evidence to build a strong claim that the insurance company can’t ignore.
Get in touch with us today—contact our Clarksville office at (931) 274-7788 or completing a free online consultation form.
